Car Alarm Incident Reveals Tensions in Fort Greene?
The Post did its best this weekend to drive a divisive wedge into the multi-culti image of Fort Greene by writing about a car alarm incident on Lafayette Avenue. In case you missed it, here’s the play-by-play: Man (who turns out to be black) has a car whose alarm frequently goes off in the middle…
The Post did its best this weekend to drive a divisive wedge into the multi-culti image of Fort Greene by writing about a car alarm incident on Lafayette Avenue. In case you missed it, here’s the play-by-play: Man (who turns out to be black) has a car whose alarm frequently goes off in the middle of the night; residents (plural) leave notes on car to ask him to fix his alarm; car owner does nothing to fix alarm; one of the residents, who turns out to be white, calls Council Member James to complain; James calls the car owner, who uses his anger over the changing demographics of the neighborhood and his Brooklyn cred to justify his inaction: “I don’t know what my fellow neighbors think goes on at night, but people come by and pillage vehicles! All of these little white people over here are not gonna dial 911 for a car alarm going off if it’s only once. The article goes on to quote a older African American woman irked by the new arrivals and their wide-load strollers (never mind that the sidewalk on that stretch of Lafayette is barely wide enough to accommodate a single pedestrian), though she attributes the differences more to class than race. The article’s attempt at pushing the race button feels like a stretch to us, but the one thing that does resonate is the attitude of people who’ve lived in any neighborhood for a long time—regardless of location or race—take towards newer arrivals who want to improve certain quality of life issues. “You haven’t lived here long enough to deserve an opinion” or “If you don’t like it then move” are familiar refrains. Last time we checked, though, we all pay taxes and there’s no reason anyone should put up with illegal or unneighborly behavior simply because it’s the status quo.
A Car Alarm, Gentrification and Fort Greene [NY Post]
“…though one can infer that someone with a car alarm that isn’t silent also isn’t rich…”
What does that mean?!?!
What is a rich guy’s car alarm like?
“Lacey: “I’m not a car alarm expert. I don’t know how to turn it off.—
Wire cutters.
And by the way, as far as the people who think Leticia James is a “smart cookie”, her response, again to the back and forth printed in the post below is pitiful and shows she’s not very smart or practical at all. What is moving the car going to do except wake up someone else who may have to go to work early in the morning?
James: “Can you move the car?â€
Lacey: “There’s nowhere to move the car to.â€
James: “Can you turn the alarm off?â€
Lacey: “I’m not a car alarm expert. I don’t know how to turn it off.â€
gosh i wish THE WHAT was around.
To live in a city as ever changing as New York and think you have more rights than new comers is just pure selfishness. I have no interest in accepting the laziness or powerlesness of “old-timers” just because I haven’t been renting a dump since the early 70’s. The old timers have gotten use to being treated poorly and being ignored and have accepted their lot in life. As one of the new people…F&%k that!
BTW – it might not be the same guy (although the address is Ft. Greene) and it doesnt prove that he is a racist (anymore than his statements do) but it is interesting to do a google search on our friend Malik cause then you’d find:
Shoplifting incident leads to scuffle near Town Hall soccer field
http://cmf.newstimes.com/news/article/Shoplifting-incident-leads-to-scuffle-near-Town-144955.php
Malik Lacey, 30, of 260 Cumberland St., Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny and possession of a shoplifting device.
AND
July 23
Malik K. Lacey, 29, 260 Cumberland St., Brooklyn, N.Y., possession of marijuana, 4:05 p.m.; court date Aug. 6, New London Superior Court.
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x1641096523/Police-report
Seems like a great all around guy
Do I think a car alarm at 3:00AM is annoying?
depends on whether or not it’s my car.
Do I think all white people are little?
no, but a good number of little people are white.
Do I have a problem with an influx of double wide
strollers into the hood?
no more so than I have a problem with hooded people
strolling outside the hood.
I dont know how this is the NY Post’s fault…seems to me this is very easily explained…
Malik Lacey is an angry racist SOB – with a crappy car and annoying car alarm.
The guy proves that racism comes in many shapes, sizes and colors.
Minard and Bxgrl:
The proof is in the pudding. See if the problem gets solved. After reading the original article, I wonder if she even thinks it even IS a problem. Maybe she can sleep late. I’ve noticed her finely-tuned political technique of fizzling out on controversial issues when they get hot. The guy with the alarm is a racist and a classical rude human being. According to the article, he had the last word—not James.
The back and forth below seems Typical of James’ response to problems:
James: “Can you move the car?â€
Lacey: “There’s nowhere to move the car to.â€
James: “Can you turn the alarm off?â€
Lacey: “I’m not a car alarm expert. I don’t know how to turn it off.â€
Then what, James?